Process for killing bacteria and fungi with aralkanol esters of boric acid and glycol borates

ABSTRACT

BORIC ACID ESTERS OF ARALKANOLS CONTAINING 2 TO 3 CARBON ATOMS, AND ESTERS OF SAID ARALKANOLS WITH 1-2 OR 1-3 GLYCOL MONOBORATES WHICH ARE EASILY FORMED AND INCORPORATED INTO WATER, HYDROCARBON, ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OIL MEDIA, ARE EFFECTIVE IN KILLING SUBSTANTIALLY ALL BACTERIA AND FUNGI IN ABOUT HALF AN HOUR EVEN WHEN PRESENT IN VERY LOW CONCENTRATIONS.

United States Patent 6 Claims 3,564,091 Patented Feb. 16, 1971 microbes were a mixture from three storage tank water bottoms known to contain those microbes most ditficult to control. This gave a final volume of 25 ml. kerosinezSO ml. aqueous.

The flasks were assayed A hour, 1 day, 2 days, 5 days, and 9 days following inoculation.

RESULTS Table I shows the rate of kill in the aqueous phase of boric acid esters prepared from various analogous alcohols.

TABLE I.RATE OF KILL OF TRI-ARYL-ALKANOL BO RATES AT 0.05% B Count (organisms/ml.)

Aryl-alkanol radical 1/2 hr. 1 day 2 days 5 days 9 days 3-phenyl-n-propanol-l 0 0 O 0 0 2-phenylethanol-L- 0 0 0 0 l-phenylethanol-L. 40Xl0 10 0 0 0 l-phenyl-n-propano 6X10 5O l0 0 0 0 Benzyl alcohol 2.5 1O 10 30 O 0 a,a,-Dimethyl-phenylethyl alcohol 3X10 10 60X10* 2X10 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Boric acid esters of aralkanols containing 2 to 3 carbon atoms, and esters of said aralkanols with 1-2 or 1-3 glycol monoborates which are easily formed and incor porated into water, hydrocarbon, animal or vegetable oil media, are effective in killing substantially all bacteria and fungi in about half an hour even when present in very low concentrations.

This invention relates to the use of certain borate esters for the control of microorganisms in a liquid medium.

More particularly, this invention relates to the use 210 biocides, compounds selected from the group consisting of (l) esters of boric acid and an alcohol of the formula AR-O-H, wherein A is an aryl hydrocarbon group of 6-44 carbon atoms and R is an aliphatic hydrocarbon group of more than one carbon atom, and (2) A'ROH alcohol esters of glycol orthoborates wherein A and R are as described above.

In the general formula above, A is preferably selected from the group consisting of phenyl, naphthyl, phenanthracyl, and anthracyl. The glycol is selected from the group consisting of alpha and beta glycols containing 3-20 carbon atoms. The term boric acid embraces ortho-, meta-, and pyroboric acids, and boric oxide.

While the compounds useful in accordance with this invention are known in the art, it has now been discovered that they possess outstanding biocidal properties.

These novel biocides are characterized by their quick action and their effectiveness against both Gram Positive and Gram Negative organisms. The biocidal activity of these compounds described appears to be quite unique, in that analogous compounds such as benzyl borate and 1- phenyl propanol-2 orthoborate are ineffective for this purpose. The following tests were performed using analogous alcohols to show their effectiveness.

PROCEDURE The compounds were made in situ by adding sufiicieut boric acid and the requisite alcohol to a 125 ml. Erlenmeyer flask containing mls, mineral salts solution and ml. kerosine. The pH Was adjusted to 6.8 as required. After two hours equilibration, the fiasks were inoculated with ml. of a 24-hour culture of mixed microbes. The

It will be seen from the table that the boric acid ester of benzyl alcohol is the least effective of the normal arylalkanols tried, followed by 2-phenethanol-1 and finally 30 the most elfective, 3-phenyl-n-propanol-l. The alcohol with the branched side chain is even less effective than the borate of benzyl alcohol.

The effectiveness of aryl-alkanol borates depends on the presence of (1) a terminal hydroxyl, (2) a normal 35 alkyl chain, and (3) the aromatic ring being omega to the hydroxyl. The omega positioning indicates that the aromatic ring and hydroxyl radical are terminally bonded to opposite ends of the alkyl chain.

Table II shows the rate of kill of boric acid esters prepared from various aromatic alcohols.

TABLE IL-RATE OF KILL OF TRLARYL BORATES AT 0.05% B Count (organisms/ml.)

Aromatic Alcohol hr. 1 day 2 days 5 days 9 days a-Naphthol 0 O 0 O 0 o-Cresol 0 0 0 O 0 p-Chlorophenol O 0 0 0 0 2x10 10 10 10 10 l0 2x10 50X 10 4x10 Tri-a-naphthol borate, tri-o-cresyl borate, and tri-p-chlorophenol borate all killed within a /2 hour. The phenolic moieties of these three borates are quite toxic in themselves. Subsequent experiments showed that the triaryl borates were no more effective than the parent aromatic alcohols. The boric acid esters of p-phenyl phenol, p-cyclohexyl phenol and p-t-butyl phenol are shown to be ineffective.

A disadvantage of glycol borates as biocides, as compared with other germicides, is the time required to completely eliminate the. bacterial population in a medium. Under ideal conditions, complete control of a mixed culture requires at least 24 hours. This slow response is a serious drawback in many applications and the need for a quick-acting modification containing all of the virtues of the glycol borates has been indicated. The borates described in this invention were found to fill these requirements giving complete kill of even the most resistant microbes in 30 minutes.

As a matter of definition, all bacteria may be classified as either Gram Positive or Gram Negative. This property is determined by treating a sample with a crystal violet solution followed by a solution of iodine in aqueous potassium iodide. All of the bacterial cells are stained by this procedure, but treatment with 95% ethanol removes the stain from some organisms and not from others. Those which retain the stain are designated Gram Positive, and those which do not are considered Gram Negative. The retention of the crystal violet-iodine or the lack of it relates to the nature of the cell wall. Gram Positive organisms are surrounded by walls which contain predominantly polysaccharides, and are therefore hydrophilic. Gram Negative bacterial organisms have walls which contain fatty substances and are essentially hydrophobic. Some cell walls are intermediate in this respect and contain both saccharides and fatty materials.

The 2-phenyl ethyl alcohol is known to be one of the [few chemicals which suppresses only Gram Negative organisms. Glycol borates are eflective against all types of bacteria (Gram Positive and Gram Negative) including fungi and yeasts but require as long as 21 days for complete sterilization. However, the virtues of both of the above compounds are combined in the mono-, diand tri-phenyl alkyl borates and in the phenyl alkanol esters of glycol borates. In a liquid medium, compounds of this invention destroy both Gram Positive and Gram Negative organisms within 30 minutes at concentrations as low as 0.05% boron. Concentrations of 0.01% boron are also eflective to a degree. The upper limit on the concentration is determined by economic considerations. Though the tri-ester contains three times as much phenyl ethyl alcohol as does the mono-ester, for a given boron concentration, the eflectiveness is equivalent.

Tests have shown that while microbes in a two-phase hydrophilic-hydrophobic system are concentrated at the interface, bacteria live in both phases. The effectiveness of the compounds of this invention in a two-phase systern is dependent upon the ability of these esters to solubilize to some degree in the hydrophobic phase and to be capable of undergoing limited extraction from the hydrophobic phase into the hydrophilic phase. The solubility of the esters in the hydrophobic phase increases with the number of phenethanol groups in the compound and the number of carbons in the glycol. Though the mono-ester is insoluble in hydrocarbon, it can be administered in a mutual solvent for hydrocarbon and water such as an alcohol, glycol, glycerine, etc. The diester is intermediate in solubility while the tri-ester is very soluble in hydrocarbon and can be administered in peanut oil, or other carriers to solubilize it in the water phase. Thus, with the use of solvents appropriate to the application, excellent control of all bacteria and fungi can be readily obtained.

The concentration of biocide required for essentially complete sterilization will vary with a number of factors including the nature of the medium. Generally, concentrations in the hydrophobic phase that will give concentrations in the hydrophilic phase of from 0.05 to 0.2 weight percent boron are preferred.

PREPARATION OF ESTERS The borates of 2-phenyl alkanol can readily be prepared by heating the alcohol in boric acid in the desired ratio for the mono-, dior tri-ester and removing the water of the reaction azeotropically. The esters can also be readily prepared in situ. Benzene, toluene or xylene may be used as the azeotroping solvent. In preparing the glycol borate esters, the proper ratios of glycol, alcohol and boric acid may be mixed with one of the aforementioned aromatic solvents and the water removed azeotropically, or the glycol borate may be formed by conventional means and the alcohol reacted with the product. The water of the reaction may also be removed by simple distillation using a non-azeotroping solvent such as iso-octane. An example of a typical Preparation is given below.

4 PREPARATION OF MONO-ESTER 12.21 grams of 2-phenyl ethyl alcohol (0.1 mole) were mixed with 6.18 grams of boric acid (0.1 mole). 15 mls. of iso-octane were added and the mixture was stirred 5 and heated for 40 minutes. During this time, 1.8 mls. of water of reaction (0.1 mole) were collected in a Dean and Stark trap. The product, a milky suspension of monophenyl ethyl borate, was soluble in water, acetone and dioxane but sparingly soluble in toluene. The same procedure was used in the preparation of the diand the triphenyl ethyl borates.

PREPARATION OF DI-ESTER 24.42 grams phenyl ethyl alcohol, 6.18 grams of boric acid and 50 mls. of iso-octane were reacted in a flask in the above manner and 2.6 mls. of water were removed by azeotropic distillation. 56 grams of product were obtained.

PREPARATION OF TRI-ESTER 36.6 grams of phenyl ethyl alcohol, 6.18 grams of boric acid and 50 mls. of iso-octane were reacted and 4.5 mls. of water were removed azeotropically. 47 grams of product were obtained.

PREPARATION OF Z-ETHYL, Z-BUTYL, PRO PANEDIOL- l 3-BORATE ESTER 320 grams of 2-ethyl, 2-butyl propanediol-l,3, 100 mls. of toluene and 123.6 grams of boric acid were reacted and 72 mls. of water were removed azeotropically. 244 grams of phenyl ethyl alcohol were added to the product and 36 grams of water were again removed. After evaporation under vacuum, 602 grams of product remained.

PREPARATION OF HEXYLENE GLYCOL BORATE ESTER MICROBIOLOGICAL TESTING (I) Hydrocarbon-water system Fifty mls. of commercial turbine fuel, somewhat less than 20 mls. of water and suflicient biocide to give a boron concentration in the water of 0.05 to 0.20% were placed in a flask. The pH of the aqueous phase was adjusted to 6.5 with 0.1 normal sodium hydroxide, and the volume of this phase was adjusted to 20 mls. Thirty mls. of an aqueous, 24-hour mixed inoculum were added to this system and the pH was rechecked. The inoculum contained a mixture of organisms, including fungi. The flasks were placed on a gyrorotatory shaker. The aqueous phase was sampled one-half hour after the inoculum was added using the dilution technique described below. The flasks were assayed daily for the duration of the tests.

Using three mls. of aqueous sample, one ml. was plated by conventional means with Nutrient Agar, one ml. with Sabourauds Agar and one ml. was added to a dilution bottle containing 99 mls. of water. The dilution water was an A.P.H.A. buffered dilution water or other (sterile) dilute salts medium. The dilution bottle was shaken 25 times, and a sample (diluted 100 times) was plated with Nutrient Agar and Sabourauds Agar. A second centade dilution was made and poured in the same manner. This technique was carried out to give plates of Nutrient Agar and Sabourauds Agar representing dilutions of the original sample of 100, 10,000 and 1,000,000. After the Agar had solidified at room temperature, the Petri dishes were inverted and incubated at 32 C. in the conventional manner. Nutrient Agar encourages bacterial development, and these plates were usually mature enough for counting after 48 hours of incubation. Sabourauds Agar encourages yeast and fungi. These plates mature more slowly, and 72 or 96 hours of incubation were allowed before counting. A Quebec Colony Counter was used to determine the number of the organisms.

EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS OF HYDROCARBON- AQUEOUS SYSTEMS The experimental results obtained from the microbiological tests are summarized in Tables III and IV. Table III shows the effectiveness of the mono-, diand tri-borate esters of Z-phenyl ethanol at 0.025 and 0.05% boron concentrations in the aqueous phase.

A mixed culture was added to mls. of a 1% peptone solution and incubated with shaking for 24 hours. Very heavy growth was evidenced by the turbidity and odor. The test compound was then added. After five days, 0.1 ml. was removed and plated to determine whether any TABLE III.-EFFECT OF BORIC ACID ESTERS OF 2-PHENETHANOL-l ON MICROBIAL POP- ULATION IN TWO-PHASE SYSTEM Microbial count after Ester 0.5 hr 7 hrs. 24 hrs. 2 days 3 days 4 days 8 days Additive concentrationo0.05% B in aqueous phase:

Mono-ester 60 0 Di-ester... 4X1() 110 Tri-ester 90 0 Additive contration#0.025% B in aqueous phase:

Mono-ester TN'IC TNTC TNTC TNTC TNTC TNTC TNTC Di-ester 'INTC TN TC 180 130 160 90X10 TNTO Tri-ester TNTC TN TC 140 0 40 20 200x10 NoTE.TNTC=to numerous to count.

The data show that at 0.025% boron concentration, the effectiveness of the ester increases as the number of phenyl ethanol groups increases from 1 to 3. However, at 0.05% boron concentration, there is little dilference between these three esters. These data therefore suggest that the presence of boron increases the effectiveness of the compound as a microbicide. This can be readily observed by comparing the elfect of the di-phenyl ethanol ester at 0.025 weight percent boron and the mono-phenyl ethanol ester at 0.05 Weight percent boron where the concentration of the phenyl ethanol is the same. At the higher boron concentration, the compound is more eifective.

Gram stain tests done at the end of the experiments showed that survivors of the mono-ester were predominantly Gram Negative while those of the tri-ester were Gram Positive. 'Ihe di-ester was effective against both Gram Positive and Gram Negative organisms.

Table IV shows the improvement in biocidal activity by reacting 2-phenethanol-l with hexylene glycol borate and with 2-ethyl, 2-butyl propane diol borate.

TABLE IV.EFFECT OF 2-PHENETHANOL ESTERS OF GLYCOL BORATES ON MICROBIAL POPULATION IN TWO-PHASE SYSTEM The data show that 0.05% boron in the aqueous phase was required for the 2-ethyl, 2-butyl propane diol borate to eliminate the bacterial life in one day. The addition of the Z-phenyl ethanol to this borate resulted in sterile conditions within one-half hour. With 0.20% boron as viable organisms survived. The two compounds used were tri-Z-phenyl ethyl borate and the 2-phenyl ethyl ester of 2-ethyl 2-butyl-propanediol 1,3-borate. The percent boron is calculated simply on the basis of the 25 mls. aqueous phase. No hydrocarbon phase was present. The results are tabulated in Table V.

diol-1,3 borate llll Both compounds killed at 05% boron in the strictly aqueous system, While the control with no biocides was still very much alive. This is unexpected. The glycol borates require the presence of a hydrocarbon overlay in order to be effective. These substituted compounds do not require the hydrocarbon overlay and are operable in strictly aqueous systems.

(III) Lipoidal systems The addition of a biocide to an animal or vegetable oil would impart biocidal advantages to the material. These advantages would be useful in the preparation of biostatic and biocidal ointments and dressings.

The requisite amount of the boron compounds was dissolved in 10 mls. of the oil. The oils were neats-foot, corn (Mazola), cottonseed (USP), and Crisco. The Crisco was melted in order to dissolve the additive. On cooling, the tubes were rotated so that the oil coated the walls of the tube. Two compounds, tri-2-phenyl ethyl borate and 2-phenyl ethyl ester of 2-ethyl-2-butyl propanediol-l,3 borate, were used at .0125 .025%, .05 and .10% boron in the oil. The inoculum consisted of 2.5 mls. of a 24-hour culture grown in 1% peptone. The

tubes were assayed after five days by pour plate techabout 0.4 percent boron concentration said ester being niques. Growth was measured on the basis of: selected from the group consisting of (1) an ester formed by the reaction of boric acid and :110 growth an alcohol having the formula AROH, wherein izless than 100 30101116? 5 A is an unsubstituted aryl group of 6 to 14 carbon +=morethan100colomes atoms, R is an alkylene group containing from 2 The results are tabulated in Table VI. to 3 carbon atoms, and said reaction is carried out on the basis of 0.1 mole of said boric acid to from about 0.1 to about 0.3 moles of said alcohol at a TABLE VI temperature in the range from 0 C. to about the 011 boiling point of said alcohol; and m (2) an ester formed by the reaction of a 1-2 or a 1-3 to 00m s d Crisco glycol orthoborate containing from 3 to 20 carbon Percent B; atoms and an alcohol having the formula AROH, -P y f l y borat 15 wherein A and R are as defined above, said reaction is carried out on the basis of 0.1 mole of said glycol orthoborate to about 0.1 mole of said alcohol at a temperature in the range from 0 C. to about the boiling point of said alcohol.

-g ggfii g g, 2. Process of claim 1 wherein said A is phenyl.

3. Process of claim 1 wherein said A is selected from i i i i the group consisting of naphthyl, anthracyl, and phenan- :1: thracyl. I f I i 4. The process of claim 1 wherein the ester contains at least about 0.05% boron and above.

5. The process of claim 1 wherein said ester of group The kill was best in neats-foot oil. Corn oil and Crisco Selected from the g p Consisting of mono, seem equivalent in that .05 B did not kill, but .10% B and achieved control. Cottonseed oil containing .10% B as The 130C655 0f Clalm 5 Wherem the ester cofltalns tri-phenyl-ethyl borate controlled while the phenyl ethyl atleast boronester of the glycol borate required slightly more. The i at the .10% B level indicates that this concentration is References Cited threshold and slightly more additive is necessary in order UNITED STATES PATENTS to 2260 336 10/1 41 P a t 1 The aryl alkanol borate compounds tried herein con- 9 resco e h 1 2,839,564 6/1958 Garner. tamed up to a maximum of 3 calbon atoms in t e norma 2,904,578 9/1959 Brust 260 462 alkanol chain. It has been dlscovered that the effectiveness h 2,940,839 6/1960 Garner.

of these new b1OC1Cl6S increases as the length of td e nor- 3,161,668 12/1964 Bengelsdorf 260 462 malside chain increases. Tillereasfon for not exte?1 mg in- 40 3,189,637 6/1965 Bengelsdorf et aL vestigation to an alkanol c am 0 greater than t ree car- 3,347,646 10/1967 De Gray et a1. 44 76 bon atoms 15 because such compounds are not presently commercially available. However, once the stated condi- FOREIGN PATENTS tions are satisfied, i.e., (1) that OH be on the alpha car- 722 533 1/1955 Great Britain.

bon atom, (2) that the alkyl chain be normal and over one carbon long, and (3) the aromatic ring be in omega position to OH, the etfectiveness of such aryl alkanols is 5 7 89,444 1/ 1958 Great Britain.

OTHER REFERENCES limited only by their solubility in the liquid media. Merck Index, 1960, 7th Edition, pp. 792493.

We claim: 1. A process for killing bacteria and fungi in a me- ALBERT MEYERS, Prlmary EXamlneI dium selected from the group consisting of water, hydro- ORE, Assistant Examiner carbon, animal oil and vegetable oil in about half an hour, comprising contacting said bacteria and fungi with a U.S. Cl. X.R.

biocidal amount of an ester containing from 0.01 to 44-76 

